Cape Town – The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) is reportedly demanding answers from Parliament’s presiding officers regarding a 70% salary hike for Parliament’s secretary, Xolile George, which raised his salary to R4.4 million.
According to EWN, Nehawu, representing nearly 1 000 parliamentary staff, was not consulted about this increase.
The controversy came to light after a news report revealed the salary hike, which had been justified through backroom maneuvers.
The Sunday Times reported that the NCOP secretly approved a nearly 70% salary increase for George, raising his annual pay to R4.4 million, surpassing that of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This increase was initially denied by the officials, who had publicly stated that George would be paid R2.6 million a year, portraying it as a pay cut from his previous role as CEO of Salga, where he earned over R5 million annually, the report said.
The DA is accusing National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula of misleading Parliament. It follows revelations that Parliament Secretary Xolile George received a whopping 70 percent pay hike. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/2rZG6vQTRZ
— eNCA (@eNCA) October 10, 2023
Nehawu is seeking explanations from Parliament’s leadership and questioned why the union was not consulted, considering its involvement in George’s interview panel.
“We are in the process of writing to the presiding officers to seek answers as to why this decision and why the union was not taken on board prior to arriving at this decision, considering that the union was part of the panel that interviewed the secretary to Parliament,” EWN quoted Nehawu’s branch secretary, Temba Gubula as saying.
Parliament claims, however, that the increase was based on a thorough and objective review by an independent firm and was not secretive about the process.
The increase has also sparked criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is calling for an investigation.
The DA claims that political parties were kept in the dark about the decision, and Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is under scrutiny.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
